Torn from the Flag: A Film by Klaudia Kovacs

Torn from the Flag - How can I convey in words the emotion I felt and the education I received watching this documentary and do it justice?

This documentary film shows the dramatic events which led to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and consequently the collapse of the USSR Communist state decades later. The producers interviewed several actual Freedom Fighters and other participants with various points of view, so Torn from the Flag is not a mere repetition of the same news stories of the Hungarian Revolution we have heard many times before. In fact, in 90 minutes, the audience is shocked, brought to tears, witnesses the bloody struggle and the apparent short-lived victory which was achieved by the Freedom Fighters. Days later, the Hungarians' joy of freedom and hope for independence was brutally crushed by a merciless, overbearing dictatorial superpower, which was followed by severe retribution by the new communist government. Desperation replaced hope in Hungary, and the world stood by and did nothing. Why did the free world allow this suppression of liberty?

This story must be told and kept alive so that current generations better understand what occurred and future generations do not forget this struggle for freedom.

Thank you, Ms.Kovacs and company for this valiant production!

Torn from the Flag is a true eye-opener on international policies. It gives you a very thorough understanding of the history surrounding the Cold War Era and the ideology of communism with touching and moving testimonies from several interesting interviewees. It shows us the unforeseen consequences of Western good intent and propaganda espousing democracy and freedom without the necessary follow-through - like our current situation in the Middle East. Director Klaudia Kovacs' courageous and exciting film examines these important matters through her young, compassionate, non-judgmental, brilliant eye. I highly recommend it to all viewers interested in international, social, and/or human-rights issues.

The Hungarian uprising of 1956 was the first time a people spontaneously overthrew a Communist government and successfully attained freedom -- even if only for a dozen days. The complex tale of how it came to be, and what contributed both to its success and to the all too short-lived duration of that success, combines a host of factors ranging from cynical geopolitical calculation to the individual initiatives of private citizens who discovered that they were not, after all, lacking in power. "Torn from the Flag" makes the myriad strands of the story clear -- even to someone unfamiliar with the history -- in its 97 minutes: and that, by itself, makes it an astonishing achievement.

It is, however, a great deal more. It presents a remarkably balanced account of a subject that still excites visceral passions more than half a century after the event. It offers moments of intense (and intensely moving) human connection, as participants relive their political, moral, spiritual, and physical journeys. And, in reels shot during the revolution by two film students -- Laszlo Kovacs and Vilmos Zsigmond -- it also offers instants of heart-stoppingly beautiful cinema, even when the images are of conflict, destruction, and death. The editing (reducing more than 90 hours of footage to under 100 minutes, still making it all comprehensible), the music (original scoring complementing a brilliantly chosen array of sources -- not least, using perfectly selected passages from Shostakovich's 11th symphony to complement martial scenes), and, above all, the people who gave of their time and their selves to be interviewed, make this a film to contemplate long, long after the house lights come up.

Nobody should think that this film merely rehashes an old tale of no current relevance: the people of Myanmar and Pakistan (to name just two examples) today face situations similar in many respects to that of Hungary 51 years ago.

Kudos to the indefatigable Klaudia Kovacs and her team for surmounting the odds in a nine-year struggle to complete this effort. The result is eminently worth it.

For anyone who doubts the evil barbarity of communism they should see Torn from the Flag, an excellent documentary that begins with the defeat of Nazi Fascism, the initial euphoria of Soviet "liberation", followed by the brutal oppression of the Hungarian people which led to the primary focus of the film the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. The film uses "never- before-seen-in-the west" footage filmed during the 1956 revolution by award winning cinematographers Laszlo Kovacs and Vilmos Zsigmond. From my knowledge and reading of history, the documentary is historically correct and the writers took great pains to interview a wide spectrum of diplomats, freedom fighters, Russian and Hungarian soldiers, members of the police and AVO. They weave the testimonies, the actual footage and archival material into an accurate portrayal of history. The documentary runs for 91 minutes and is scored with 80 minutes of music. I highly recommend it to all.

Dear Klaudia,

My husband, my son, and I all have the same opinion regarding your TORN FROM THE FLAG documentary film. It gives a very truthful and artistic reflection of the 1956 Revolution.It does not take any side of the parties involved and does not exaggerate the different situations. It looks at things with objectivity and shows the causes of the revolution, the ensuing suppression, and the eventual victory in the long run. To make this film, which was an enormous task considering all the obstacles, took a lot of courage on your part, but you made it a success. For all of us who lived through the brutality of the dictatorial regime and then the Revolution, the film gives back the sad and the short-lived happy memories of that time. For today's generation the film gives a chance and warning to love and protect freedom and democracy. We wish that with your talent you have the opportunity do many many more good and valuable projects.

Susan Dobay